Steam-trap



(No Model.)

J. 1?. MGELRUY.

STEAM TRAP.

Patented Sept. 1,1891.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. MCELROY, OF ALBANY, NEWv YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE OONSOLL DATED OAR HEATING COMPANY, OFWVHEELING, VES'I VIRGINIA.

STEAM-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,792, dated September 1, 1891.

Y Application filed September 9, 1889. Serial No. 323,483. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES F. MCELROY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Traps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in steam-traps; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and operation of a steam-trap applied to a heating apparatus of that type known as a return system, wherein the water of condensation returns from the pipe back to the point of starting.

The invention is especially adapted to be used in connection with the heating` of railway-cars, and is intended to form a part of a car-heating system, as set forth and claimed in'an application tiled concurrently herewith and in this application my improvement is shown as applied to railway-car heating.

In the drawingsv which accompany this specification is represented a vertical central section through the trap, showing` the piping partly in elevation.

This trap is of the following construction: m is a suitable casing having an aperture at the top to connect with the pipe X (which in turn connects into the T J on the train-pipe C. An exit-opening m is provided at the lowest point of the trap, in which is secured the valve n, which is held normally open by means of the spring n.

o is a float-valve pivoted to the inside of the casing and having an offset o', arranged to open and close the exit-opening p as the float rises and lowers.

K is an exit-pipe connecting into a tender or other suitable receptacle for the water of condensation, and secured in the exit-aperture p.

p is a drip-valve located in the pipe K. This drip-valve is operated by means of a diaphragm q in the chamber w near the top of the trap, the valve p being held normally open by means of the spring q', and adapted' to be closed as 4soon as steam is admitted into 5o the trap.

Z is a guide-arm, in which the float-valve 0 operates. The chamber lw preferably consists of the top piece w', having an aperture at the forward end adapted to engage with the nipple w, secured in the aperture in the upper side of the trap. Thelower side of the top piece is provided with a screw-threaded aperture, in which is secured the bottom piece wthe diaphragm q being held between the two. 6o The rod of the valve p passes through the bottom piece w3 and engages centrally with the diaphragm, the spring q being arranged between the diaphragm and the bottom piece and its tension acting to normally open the valve in the pipe K.

The end of the casing of the trap' I preferably make detachable by means of suitable bolts a', so that the interior of the trap may be readily reached.

The parts being thus constructed and arranged, they are intended to operate as follows: The water of condensation returns through suitable pipes together with the wet steam, which may not have been condensed. The suction of the injector'will carry the contents of the pipe H into the pipe O. The water being heavier than the steam, it will seek the lower part of the pipe O, and on reaching the T J will fall by gravity into the 8o trap. lVhen the steam is turned on, as soon as the steam-pressure enters the trap the valve n and the valve 19 lwill be closed. As the water accumulates in the trap, the float o will rise, opening the aperture p, and the pressure of the steam upon the water will force it through the pipeV K, which may be connected with the tender, or discharge it upon the ground, as may be desired. As soon as the water lowers, the trap willautomatically 9o close and the process will be kept up as long as the device is in operation; Then steam is turned off, the pressure within the trap having diminished sufficiently the spring n will open the valve a thereby allowing all the water in the trap to drain ont, and the pressure in the chamber w being withdrawn the spring q will lift the valve jp', thereby allow ing any Water which may bein the pipe K to drain out, thus preventing the danger of freezing in cold Weather, as the device is intended to be used in an exposed place upon the tender.

i It is obvious that my device presents the advantage of being entirely automatic in its action and that the steam-pressure in the trap operates the Valve to drain the. trap and connections, and also to force the water out and to the desired point Where it may be discharged.

What I claim as my invention is- In a steam-trap, the combination, With a casing, of an inlet-pipe opening into the top of the same, an outlet-pipe communicating with the casing near the bottom thereof, a float- Valve for closing the outlet-pipe, a dischargeopening in the lowest point of the outlet-pipe, a valve for closing the discharge-opening, a spring for normally holding said valve open, a steam-chamber communicating With the top of the interior of the casing,a diaphragm in the chamber, a connection between the same and the valve of the discharge-opening in the outlet-pipe, a valve in the lowest point of the casing, and a spring for normally holding the same open, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 9th day of August, 1889.

JAMES F. MCELROY.

Witnesses.

EDWIN A. SMITH, THos. C. MURRAY. 

